Alcohol Dependency, Alcohol Relapse, and Enabling
August 23rd, 2009
It is worthy of note to point out something that family members who have been unfavorably affected by the alcoholism of another family member plainly do not know. It seems that by shielding the alcohol addicted individual with lies and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have basically created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent person to persist and proceed with his or her negative, destructive existence.
Indeed, instead of helping the alcohol dependent individual and themselves, these family members have in truth become enablers who have inadvertently helped deteriorate the alcoholic’s drinking problem even further.
The Chances of a Relapse are Real
Another key alcohol addiction issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol addicted individual has effectively undergone alcohol dependency rehab and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this circumstance flies in the face of sound thinking and looks so doubtful that it forces a person to speculate why anyone who has gone through the wretchedness of alcoholism can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol treatment and in turn after achieving sobriety. There are, to be sure, numerous likely reasons for this.
It should be pointed out, on the other hand that alcohol dependency research that has centered on the long-term effects of alcohol dependency has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol dependent individual has quit his or her drinking, significant alterations in the way in which the alcoholic’s brain operates are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol addicted individual has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the alterations that have occurred in the brain is to begin drinking again.
The Need for A Crucial Lifestyle Transformation
There are additional reasons why many recovering alcohol addicted individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. According to the alcohol dependency research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol addicted individual needs new ways of reacting and thinking in order to deal more effectively with taxing alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.
Situations such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol dependent individual was drinking excessively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring about memories that can set off psychological anxiety or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in excessive drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these circumstances may not only negate long-term alcohol recovery for the alcohol addicted person but they can also result in relapse and consequently circumvent one’s alcohol recovery.
Conclusion
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol addicted individual, family members can essentially cause inadvertent destruction by enabling the harmful drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent person.
The alcoholism research literature demonstrates the fact that most people who effectively complete alcohol counseling go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get defeated or overwhelmed when a relapse occurs.
Happily, taking part in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up rehab and education have resulted in more effective, enduring alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency treatment outcomes, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcoholics attain enduring alcohol recovery.
Related posts: